Gasoline pump casing



March 26, 1968 S JR 3,375,050

GASOLINE PUMP CASING Filed Nov. 50, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS March 26, 1968 B. H. SASNETT, JR

GASOLINE PUMP CASING 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 30, 1964 5 will] INVENTOR. BOLLING H. SASNETT JR.

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ATTORNEYS March 26, 1968 s s JR 3,375,050

GASOLINE PUMP CASING 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 50, 1964 v INVENTOR. BOLLING H. SASNETT JR.

ATTORNEYS March 26, 1968 B. H. SASNETT, JR 3,375,050

GASOLINE PUMP CASING 9 Sheets- Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 30, 1964 I INVENTOR. BOLLING H. SASN E T T JR.

BY Mi 1* 1 l AT TORNEYS March 26, 1968 B. H. SASNETT, JR 3,375,050

GASOLINE PUMP CASING Filed Nov. 30, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet e fiz lllmltm 1 l| INVENTOR.

BOLLING H. SASNETT JR.

.v ATTORNEYS March 26, 1968 SASNETT, JR 3,375,050 v GASOLINE PUMP CASING Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 30, 1964 AT TOR NEYS March 26, 1968 B. H. SASNETT, JR 3,375,050

GASOLINE PUMP CASING 9 Sheets-Shet 8 Filed Nov. 30, 1964 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY S March 26, .1968 B. H. SASNETT, JR 3,375,050

' GASOLINE PUMP CASING Filed Nov. 50, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. BOLLING H. SASNE TT JR AT TORN EYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,375,053 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 3,375,050 GASOLINE PUMP CASING Bolling H. Sasnett, Jr., Box 2911, Station D,

- Atlanta, Ga. 30318 Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,743 2 Claims. (Cl. 312100) This invention relates to pump casings and is particularly concerned with casing or housings for gasoline dispensing pumps or the like and currently finds its most commercially successful field in dressing up or modernizing to provide the new look for gasoline dispensing pumps, their indicating dials and dispensing meters and like mechanisms.

Since appearance is an important element of customer appeal in the retail distribution of motor fuel, gas stations and like retail distribution facilities constantly seek and vie with one another in presenting an up to date appearance and characteristically different appearances, one from the other. However, the operators seek to avoid the expense of replacing the entire pump equipment, which though having seen years of service and presenting an outdated appearance are nevertheless fully effective and eflicient. While certain aspects of the present inventive concept may be broadly applicable in the design and construction of retail gasoline dispensing pumps and their associated metering and registering means, the invention is here presented as a means for the refurbishing of aesthetically outmoded gas stations and like retail fuel distribution facilities.

Among the features of the present pump casings, by which an older mechanism may acquire a new look, is the provision of an upper enclosure of superstructure extending outwardly from the side walls of the base to provide a T-shaped overall appearance which has a desirable utilitarian function in the shielding of the hose and nozzle arrangement, removing them from the conventional exposed position where they are subjected to hazards of nature and careless operators and patrons. A further feature of the present construction and arrangement is the provision of a tapered base which, though generally rectangular, presents beveled corners symmetrically blending with the more angular character of the transverse outwardly extending top of the superstructure. Another feature of the present invention is the reversibility of the front, back and side panels of the base whereby the taper may be reversed, providing a base of greater dimensions than the juncture of the base with the superstructure, or providing a base tapering inwardly from the superstructure. Since the variation of taper accomplished is by mere reversal of standard parts, it will be seen that individual characteristics of appearance may be attained while utilizing the same housing components. Other features of aesthetic moment with respect to the present invention include that of presenting a full view through a vertical transparent face element of the superstructure, angularly related internal face members provide a modernistic motif, and a novel concealed illumination arrangement to provide ample but indirect lighting for the display of the quantity and price indicia of the metering and registering means. Structurally, the above features of design are carried out with simplicity and economy to provide a rugged and durable construction, adapted for ease of assembly, security against unauthorized access to the interior mechanism and one well suited to the demands of economic manufacture.

In general terms, the invention may be generally defined as including a skeletal frame to accommodate existing pump mechanisms including their fuel lines, electrical conduits and the like. The skeletal frame mounts front, rear and side panels of tapering construction which may be inverted to provide election of either an upwardly or downwardly tapering base. At the upper end of the frame, outwardly extending superstructure base beams are provided for the mounting of top and end plates, as well as the front and rear glass securing bezels of the superstructure.

It is therefore among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel and improved housing for retail gasoline dispensing pumps. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a pump housing which may be readily assembled in a variety of ways to present dilfering appearances. It is also an object of the invention to provide a pump housing skeletal frame of rigid durable construction adapted to selectively support and secure housing plates and panels to form a distinctive and attractive enclosure for pump components. A further object of the invention is to provide a readily assembled structural arrangement for securely enclosing retail gasoline dispensing means against unauthorized access. Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of that form of the invention shown in FIG. 1 with the front panel removed and illustrating, by dotted lines, the inversion of the side panels;

I FIG. 3 is a side elevation of that form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating, by dotted lines, the inversion of the front panels;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of another form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the skeletal frame of the device;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the superstructure taken on the lines 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the lines 7--7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a detail perspective view of the top securement assembly;

FIG. 9 is a detailed perspective view of the bottom corner of the assembly; and,

FIG.[10 is a detailed perspective view of the securing means for the top of the front cover.

Referring first to the skeletal frame structure of the invention, as depicted in FIG. 5, the numeral 10 designates the peripheral base support comprising an open square with the corners truncated or beveled, as at 11, and formed with an upstanding shoulder 12 inwardly spaced from the bottom lip 14. The front and rear rails of the base 10 are provided, inwardly adjacent their beveled terminals 11, with upwardly extending rigid securing pins 15. In the usual installation the base 10 is imbedded in concrete to provide a permanent installation.

The upper face of the side rails of the base have, secured thereto as by welding, side angle plates 16. To the plates -16 there are secured flanged lower frame uprights 17. The externally projecting flanges 18 of the frame uprights 17 provide strength and rigidity to the skeletal frame. At the upper corners of the uprights, angle stub pieces 19 are provided, across which upper frame superstructure base beams 20 are secured, projecting outwardly beyond the uprights 17. Central stirrups 21 are mounted on the superstructure base beams 20, each provided With a lock latch receiving flange 22 for securing the front panels of the casing as hereinafter discussed.

At each end of each base beam 20 short vertical connectors 24 of angular material are secured to engage and support, in a vertical position, the outwardly flanged superstructure frame ends 25. Across the top of the ends 25, angled top supporting brackets 26 are provided, preferably secured to the ends 25 through bolts 28 and elongated slots 29. By such connection it will be understood that the elevation of the brackets 26 may be varied to accommodate variations of the internal mechanism to be accommodated within the superstructure frame It is, of course, understood that the construction, combination, selection, or arrangement of enclosed mechanism forms no part of the present invention and may vary widely.

As hereinafter referred to, the top flanges of the supporting brackets 26 mount the ends of channels 54 which are rigidly secured thereto as by welding. Thus the brackets 26 and channels 54 are united for vertical adjustment with respect to the frame ends 25 by means of the bolts 28 and elongated slots 29. Since the beams 20 are fixedly united with the uprights 17 by stud pieces U and since vertical connectors 24- mounted on beams 20 are united with the ends 25, it will be seen that a rigid unitized skeletal frame is provided.

The front panels 30 of the housing are invertible and tapering between their ends to form central trapezoidal face sections 31. The edges of the front panel are formed with integral trapezoidal side flanges 32. The end edges of the trapezoidal face sections 31 are provided with inwardly extending lips 34 while the trapezoidal side flanges are formed with similar internally extending lips 35. At the internal corners of an end of the front which is to be disposed at the bottom of the housing, a perforate triangular reinforcing and securing gusset 36 is provided, the perforations 38 of which are adapted to receive the pins 15 for aligning and releasably securing the lower end of the front panel in position on the base 10. At the opposite end, triangular imperforate gussets 39 extend between the inner lips 34 of the central portion 30 and the edge lips 35 of the side flanges 32 to reinforce the construction and retain the predetermined angular relation of the flanges.

For securing the panels in position, a key actuated tumbler lock 4% is inserted through the panel in a central location adjacent the upper edge. The tumbler lock 40 actuates a right angularly offset lock latch 41 to be received within the lock latch receiving recess of the flanges 22 of the stirrup 21 of the beam 20. Such an engagement of the lock latch Within the receiving recess of the stirrup flange together with the reception of the pins 15 within the perforations 38 of the gusset 36 secures the panels 30 in position and precludes unauthorized access to the pump mechanism enclosed within the housing. With respect to the front panel 30 it is to be understood that such elements are identical for both sides of the casing. The term front is employed merely to designate the aspect of the base which is identical on both sides.

Cooperating with and disposed between the front panels 30 are substantially rectangular side panels 42. At each edge of the side panel 42, edge flanges 44, conforming with the taper of the front 30, are provided. The flanges are to be secured as by bolts, rivets or the like to the side flanges 18 of the uprights 17. In assembly, it will be understood that the terminal edges of the flanges 44 are located in alignment with the inner edge of the flanges 18. Since the flanges 44 are tapered, this assembly will dispose the plane of the panel 42 at an inclination conforming with the inclination of the front central trapezoidal face 31 of the front 30 and in a plane normal thereto. It will, of course, be understood that the fronts 30 are reversible, end for end, as are the sides 4-2. In such reversal the inclination of the sides will be reversed with the inclination of the central trapezoidal faces 31 of the front by virtue of the tapering character of the flanges 44.

The cover for the superstructure skeletal frame disclosed in FIG. includes a generally rectangular central intermediate top cover 50 with right angulariy depending side walls 51 and edge flanges 52. The top edge flanges 52, as seen more clearly in FIGS. 6 and 8, fit within the side walls 53 of channels 54 extending between the support brackets 26. From the ends of the top 50, sides 51 extend downwardly to provide lips 56 to receive the upper edge of a companion L-shaped lower central member 57 which extends inwardly under the base beams 20 to meet the upper ends of the uprights 17. Also mounted within the channels 54 are the inwardly turned top edges 58 of the front and rear bezels 60. The flanges 52 and edges 58 are frictionally retained within the channels 54 by the spring clips 61.

The peripheries of the bezels 60 form extensions of the central top 56 and lower central members 57 of the superstructure cover. Their front edges 63 mount peripheral, grooved, glass sealing and retaining gaskets 62 as shown in FIG. 6 which in turn receive and mount the glass panels 64. The inner edges of the gaskets 6-2 are retained by strips 65 at top and bottom and at the sides. Within the casing and behind each glass panel 64 there is provided on each side a computer panel suitably mounted on a computer (not shown). It is to be noted that the computer panels 70 do not extend the full height of the glass 64. Therefore, the inner face of the lower edge 71 of the bezel is provided with an upwardly extending and inwardly inclined panel bracket 72 which extends toward the computer panel thus giving a finished appearance, shielding the internal computer mechanism from view, as well as the superstnlc-ture and the lock mechanism.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 10, bottom inwardly extending lower edges 71 of the bezels 60 with their upturned lips 76 pass inwardly over the base beams 20 and under the lock latch receiving flanges 22 where the edge 71 is apertured at 77, in registration with the latch receiving recesses of the flanges 22. Thus, with the bezels in position and with the panels 30 in position turning the latch 41 inserts it not only in the receiving recess of the flanges 22 to secure the panel 30, but also through the bezel aperture 77 to lock the bezel in position as well as the panel.

It will be noted from FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 as distinct from FIG. 4 and as referred to with respect to slots 29 and bolts 28 that the height of the superstructure frame may be adjusted, and such adjustment may be compensated for by the height of the side walls 51 of the cover 50 as well as the height of the bezels. Thus, where internal illumination is desired the height may be increased as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 to accommodate light bulks 80. Otherwise the height may be less as in FIG. 4.

As indicated by the dotted lines of FIGS. 2 and 3, either upwardly inward taper of the base appearance or upward outward taper may be achieved by inversion of front panels 30 and side panels 42.

It is believed that from the foregoing the structural details and modes of assembly to provide various design characteristics by the use of a minimum number of standard elements will be apparent. In general practice it may be assumed that the skeletal frame as depicted in FIG. 5 may be prefabricated as an unitized integral structure, primarily by welding at the manufacturing plant. Such an assembly may thus be delivered with the two front panels- 30, the two side panels 42, the two bezels 60, and intermediate superstructure pieces for assembly at the filling sta-- tion. The assembled frame is then located, the pumps, meters, piping and components are then mounted in the frame structure. The ultimate consumer may then apply the front and side panels, in the manner described, with such choice of upward or downward taper as he may decide. The final locking of the front panels interengages the frame, the bezels and the panels in a rigid and secure united housing and one precluding unauthorized admission to the interior.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the objectives hereinbefore set forth are achieved in an economic manner whereby a minimum of standard parts may provide a plurality of design. effects and that in each mode of assembly the completed housing is rigid, rugged and durable.

The assembly of exterior parts is simple, effective and efficient requiring neither special skills nor equipment. It Will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for purpose of illustrating the present invention without departure from the scope thereof.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. Means for retaining the glass holding bezel for the housing of a retail gasoline dispensing means in which the bezel includes an angularly extending bezel edge which includes, a U-shaped supporting piece adapted to receive the edge of a bezel between the side walls thereof and a spring retaining plate between the side walls of the supporting piece to bring pressure to bear against the bezel edge to restrain the edge from displacement from between the side walls of the supporting piece.

2. In a housing assembly including a pair of side bezels each including angularly turned edges, and an intermediate member having parallel angularly turned edges, one of each parallel edges of said intermediate member being disposed against a parallel edge of one of the bezels, retaining means for each bezel edge and its parallel edge of the intermediate member including, a U-shaped support- 6 ing piece defining a trough to receive a bezel edge and an intermediate member edge in parallel contact, and an elongate spring retaining plate in said trough contacting one of said edges for urging both of the edges within the trough toward one Wall of the U-shaped piece.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,776,226 9/1930 Nelson 222-182 XR 1,847,775 3/1932 Manfre 132 2,083,258 6/1937 Fisher 40-132 2,209,700 7/1940 Mayo 73230 2,530,525 11/1950 Howenstine 40125 2,769,262 1 1/ 195 6 Wamser 40132 3,027,211 3/1962 Wright 31210O 3,139,215 6/1964 Sasnett 312 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,347,275 11/ 1963 France.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

ABRAHAM FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR RETAINING THE GLASS HOLDING BEZEL FOR THE HOUSING OF A RETAIL GASOLINE DISPENSING MEANS IN WHICH THE BEZEL INCLUDES AN ANGULARLY EXTENDING BEZEL EDGE WHICH INCLUDES, A U-SHAPED SUPPORTING PIECE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE EDGE OF A BEZEL BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS THEREOF AND A SPRING RETAINING PLATE BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS OF THE SUPPORTING PIECE TO BRING PRESSURE TO BEAR AGAINST THE BEZEL EDGE TO RESTRAIN THE EDGE FROM DISPLACEMENT FROM BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS OF THE SUPPORTING PIECE. 